There should be a chance for all of us to age as gracefully as Santa Barbara's Gonzales-Ramirez Adobe has managed to do. The adobe is located in the heart of Santa Barbara's downtown business district, and it has been around since 1825, when the city was still part of Mexico, when the adobe was a Mexican building.

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Rafael Gonzales, a retired Spanish soldier who served as the mayor of Santa Barbara for two terms, is credited with the construction of the building. Salome Ramirez, Gonzales' daughter, deeded the house to her parents in 1866 and she lived in it from 1866 until her death in 1923, when she died at the age of 47.

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A couple interested in the architectural styles of New Spain and Mexico, David and Louise Vhay, had renovated and enlarged the house by the mid-1900s, when they developed an interest in the architectural styles of New Spain and Mexico.

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In 1985, when book dealer Ron Randall opened a brick-and-mortar shop in the adobe-brick building, the house had been converted for commercial use to accommodate a brick-and-mortar shop owned by Randall. It was run by Randall House Rare Books & Fine Art and was in operation until 2020, when Randall retired from the business. 

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The 200-year-old landmark has undergone a restoration project completed by Becker Studios, a local design-build firm that specializes in historic preservation. It now has a fresh lease on life following the restoration work.

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The adobe follows the L-shaped design of an L-shaped building and is tucked away behind a brick wall on a .62-acre plot of land. The floor space of the house is 2,770 square feet, which includes two bedrooms, one of which has an outside entrance, two bathrooms, a great room, living room, study, laundry room, and kitchen, as well as a great room with a fireplace. 

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There are many noteworthy architectural features in the home, including extra thick, white-washed adobe walls, vaulted viga ceilings, multiple beehive fireplaces, built-in shelves and display niches, wrought iron light fixtures, Saltillo tile floors, and hand-painted decorative tile. 

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As a home ready for its next 200 years, the updated vintage home has been outfitted with new appliances, plumbing fixtures, water heaters, and forced air units to ensure it is ready to live for another 200 years.

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Rich Report notes that the property has two outdoor spaces. One has a romantic tiled fountain in the center, while the other has a long covered veranda surrounding the pool. As part of the property's meticulous landscaping, oak and fruit trees, agaves, sage bushes, and other California native plants are planted on the grounds of the property.

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There are a variety of possibilities open to you as you explore the adobe's commercial zoning, in addition to being a sublime, turn-key residence steeped in the ambiance of local history. A marketing material for the property suggests that the property could be used as an art gallery, a wine tasting venue, a wedding venue, or even as an office.

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It is believed that the Gonzales-Ramirez Adobe was last sold eight months ago for $2.45 million, and is now being offered for twice that amount. In addition to Marsha Kotlyar Estate Group of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Greg Bartholomew and Liam Murphy of Hayes Commercial Group are also listed in the listing.

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